Josh J.

Vanderbilt Divinity School has a certificate program in the Arts and Religion. Its concerned with the Arts broadly, but we have folks in it who focus on Art History and Religion. I'm not in the program, but I love art history. http://www.vanderbilt.edu/religionandarts/index.php

Sorry I disappeared. Was in the hospital for a while. I'm curious how people feel the program stacks up against the Ives and other big league schools.

Modernism, with its tendencies towards absolutes, attempted to make history a science. Until the 60's, many historians were continually attempting to identify general historical theories/laws that they could apply towards the disciplines as a whole, and there was a push for history to be a subject that could use to predict the outcomes of future events. That view of history placed it within the social sciences, which were created specifically to generalize and predict. It seems to me that history, as a descriptive discipline, better belongs in the humanities. However, as has been pointed out above, some of the best history is very well informed by the social sciences (as well as the other humanities).

I agree, apply at both. I'm doing my MTS in religious history right now, and hope to get a PhD in American History, but I'll be applying to PhD programs in religion as well. As competitive as it is, being able to apply at twice as many programs is a nice option.

FWIW, one thing you might consider that I've heard of some people doing that seems to work, is applying for a different masters program elsewhere that is easier to get into, such as an MAT program. If you do that, you need to work your @$$ off, let absolutely nothing get in the way, and ensure that you have a really good GPA and get stellar LORs out of that as well.

It is my opinion that a lot of this stuff gets over thought. It's additional preparation. That should be obvious to the adcomm. If it was for human kinetics or accounting or something not at all related, then it might be something to worry about. My advice is do the language, get great grades, and if you are really worried then mention in your statement that you've taken additional language as prep, and then change your major back to undeclared after you've satisfed whatever the heck the VA/DOD requires for your GI Bill.

Does anyone know anything about this program? I checked out the website and the program looks pretty interesting.

I have two final papers Wednesday, then I'm done. I will be rewriting one of those papers into a proposed journal article, finishing a second article, reading a book by a friend in order to write a book review, and working until we move half way across the country (if my wife can find a job).

Congrats on the wedding.

I had to laugh at this at first, but VDS does have a keg every Friday I hear, on campus no less. Time around food and booze will certainly help.

I've pretty much decided I'm going to Vanderbilt, but I've got to say, I'm still a little bit annoyed that I STILL haven't received a financial aid letter from Duke.......

I submitted a book review for publication last year to a small, specialized journal. It was unsolicited. They accepted it because they hadn't had enough coverage of the area I submitted for. The other journal I submitted to (same piece) sent me a rejection very quickly as they said they had too many of the same type (an assertion I doubt since I receive their journal, but whatever.)

I don't think it matters that much to be honest. I think having a top-notch writing sample is important, but it need not come from a thesis course. If you are really bent on a similar experience, try a directed research course from a trusted professor that will let you take an in-depth look at a topic from the undergrad level. Same results, without tons of boring honors courses that probably have nothing to do with your topic anyway.

Vanderbilt has the same setup as YDS, apparently, and I looked closely at the catalogs of both schools, which ended up being the same. That was important to me since I'm doing an MTS. Since you plan on a PhD, having the combined resources at both schools is probably best.

I'm preparing to enter grad school to study American Religious History along with a smattering of ethics. I'm coming with a secular history degree, so I wish I had more courses in theology, or in religion in general. I knew when returning to my undergrad program that I wanted to study religion, but my undergrad religion program was mostly tooled for ministry. That would be okay if I was doing an MDiv, but I'd say 80% of the required coursework was irrelevant to what I'm trying to do. I also wish I had taken more philosophy courses, and more social science of religion courses. My history degree was located in the humanities department, which is fine (and the way it should be, I think), but I'd really like to use social science concepts to better inform my scholarship. If I didn't have to work full time finishing up a career while doing my undergrad, I think I would have been more well rounded than I am.

I'm headed to Vanderbilt. American Religious History and theology, as they intersect with warfare and theological ethics.

Totally worth it. If you plan to persue a PhD or engage the scholarship in the field, the networking opportunities found at a conference are a must.

I'll pm you.

I'm 95% sure I'm going to Vanderbilt. Visited today and met with my POI, and it seems like an excellent fit. My wife also interviewed today at the medical center for a nursing position. She is the only hitch, she has to get her first nursing job before I can quit my career and we can move.

My experience is that instructors don't have PhD's, are full time, but do not hold professor rank, while adjuncts may or may not hold the PhD and are part time or contract. I've also had professors who don't hold PhD's. So, I think it really depends upon the institution.

Ah, that does make sense. And yeah, I agree with your outlook at your church history courses are in a way electives, and the Jan Term, since it is included in tuition, is a nice thing... Still...Catholic versus Presbyterian when you are studying historical theology.... especially when you are Episcopal..I'd go for BC.

So, at PTS you have 24 elective credits, which is the same as BC. BC requires 6 credits in each area, PTS requires 12, except for "practical theology, " where it requires 14. BC allows 9 language hours to count towards the degree, while PTS allows as many as you want, as electives. I don't see a ton of difference, but I seem to remember now that you were thinking about ordination, right? In that case, PTS might be better, but I would think academically, BC would be better. However, you might, of course, be able to transfer into the MDiv from the MTS at BC.... Also, it seems that 6 of the hours at BC are historical theology, which, since it is your field, would be a positive...

I agree with Seatbelt Blue. BC has more resources being connected to the university. Since you are interested in historical theology, especially medieval and modern theology, I would bet you'll get a better education from the Jesuits.

I'm leaning towards Vanderbilt. It seems to be a bit of a better fit, they are offering more funding than Duke typically does, and my religion professor's advisor is starting there next fall.

Well, I contacted the admissions director at Vandy yesterday and asked for more. I received a friendly but very firm "no," and was told that while in the past they sometimes have made initial offers that were lower and would bump them up on request, they no longer do this. I am pretty bummed. My research cohort just received an unsolicited book offer from a major press, and I'll be listed as an author. It really makes you wonder what adcomms are looking for to give you decent funding.